College Football

Kirby Smart addresses rash of Georgia football driving arrests

Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart was asked about the spate of driving arrests and citations his team has had in recent years.

Early last year, offensive lineman Devin Willock and an administrative staffer for the team both died in a car accident that happened while racing, and, according to the Athens Banner-Herald, there have been 25 arrests or citations for speeding, racing or reckless driving related to the program since that time.

Smart was asked about all of the incidents at SEC media days on Tuesday.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks during Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Dallas.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart speaks during Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Dallas. AP

“The incidents that we’ve had off the field are not something that we condone,” Smart said, as covered by the Banner-Herald. “It’s very unfortunate, disappointing I guess is the best word. I always talk about process and outcomes. I talked about that with wins and losses that we try not to base things on the outcomes with wins and losses. In this situation, the outcomes are very disappointing.”

In March, running back Trevor Etienne was arrested for DUI, a charge that was ultimately dismissed as he pleaded guilty to failure to maintain lane and no contest to reckless driving.

And just last week, Smael Mondon Jr. and Bo Hughley were arrested for separate driving offenses.

Demello Jones was also charged with reckless driving.

Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (2) runs off the field before Georgia's spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga.
Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (2) runs off the field before Georgia’s spring NCAA college football game, Saturday, April 16, 2022, in Athens, Ga. AP

Backup safety, David Daniel-Sisavanh, who was arrested in February for reckless driving after leading police on a chase, was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules.

“We’ll have suspensions coming out of some of these,” Smart said. “I think everybody wants to know, what game and are they suspended? That’s probably an important things in terms of the discipline, the culture that they get to experience. We’ve done more as far as I know. There’s not one team in the country that’s ever suspended a player for traffic violations.

“That’s what Marcus Rosemy got suspended for (last year).”